Interesting Facts

According to Fixr.com, the Google autocomplete function can tell you the top searches for the cost of something by geographic area. (They have created an eye-opening infographic that shows what the most pressing concerns of an area are.  Some of their results were amusing, some sad, others worrying. “Camel” was the top search for Saudi Arabia “Croissant” came top in France "Passport and patent" were neck and neck in North America “BMW” in Germany "Prostitute" in Ukraine, Hong Kong, Latvia and Brazil "Slave” in Mauritania "Kidney" in Iran I decided to do a couple of tests, so I started with a simple "cost of * in ..." search for Nottingham. The results were:- ... living / parking / taxi Then I did the "How much does a * cost in ...". The results were:- IVF / the tram / to hire a limo Good old Nottingham. Then I did a "How much does a * cost in ..." search for England:- The results were:- divo...

Lots of countries like the US, Sweden, France, Latvia, Bhutan, Jamaica, Mexico etc. have a national bird, but the UK doesn't. What about the chicken? (This might be about to change as a  famous ornithologist in the UK is asking the British public to vote for an official national  bird . There are 10 contenders:- The Mute Swan The Wren The Blue Tit The Puffin The Kingfisher The Red Kite The Barn Owl The Blackbird The Hen Harrier The Robin There are a couple of missing contenders - What about the sparrow, the pigeon, the chicken, or the seagull?)

According to the UKRC's “European Engineering Report” the UK has the lowest number of female engineers in the whole of Europe. (Only 9% of UK engineering professionals are women, compared to 18% in Spain, 20% in Italy, 26% in Sweden and 30% in Latvia. I wonder how many girls are given engineering as an option in careers advice days at school.)

In Latvia a traditional Christmas dinner is cooked brown peas with bacon sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage. (Mmmm peas!)

Latvia has the highest cigarette tax in Europe, 80% of the price of cigarettes there is tax. (The UK level is 77%. Lucky number 7.)